At least 6,000 people have been displaced by the recent rains in Buipe and its surrounding communities in the Central Gonja district of the Savannah Region, the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) said.
The Buipe Bridge area, Zongo, Buipe Bato,Ali Complex, Buipe Livestock Market, and other areas were the most affected, the disaster management body said, adding that almost half of Buipe town has been flooded, leaving residents homeless.
The paramount chief for the Buipe Traditional Area, Buipewura Abdulai Jinapor II, has made a passionate appeal to the central government, NGOs, religious bodies, and individuals to come to the aid of the flood victims.
Speaking to the media during his tour of the flood-affected areas in Buipe on Wednesday (11 October) Jinapor II said the situation is not only affecting the livelihoods of the people, but also having a negative impact on the economic activities in the area.
“Our bridge area, which is the economic hub for the whole of Buipe and beyond, has been submerged in water. So, it is affecting even our economy seriously,” Buipewura added.
“We are in serious danger, so we are pleading with the government, all the NGOs, the churches, and the Muslim community to hear our cry.”
He said apart from the accommodation challenges of the affected persons, they also find it difficult to feed themselves after losing their belongings to the flood.
The DCE for Central Gonja, Iddrisu Salia Kamara, who accompanied the chief during the visit, noted that though some people blame the recent flood in the area on the spillage of the Bui Dam, he thinks it is as a result of the heavy rains this year.
He expressed concern about a possible cholera outbreak in the town, owing to the fact that most of their water sources have been flooded by dirt.
The Savannah Regional Minister, Saeed Muhazu Jibril, presented some relief items on behalf of Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia to the victims and just last week, the MP for the area, John Abdulai Jinapor, also presented some items to the affected people. Meanwhile, NADMO has since not given any relief to the victims.
Reporting by Tahiru Abdul-Washiru in the Savannah Region
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